First High School Senior shoot...

Would really appreciate some C&C on this shot....its my current favorite. I will have others as soon as I finish editing them. He's a fun kid, was quite patient with a newbie.

ETA: It definitely lost some IQ in resizing for web...his face is a little brighter in the original and it doesn't look nearly so....cruddy.

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I like the location you have for the shot.

Overall, nice shot....

Here are a few things to point out though (just a little constructive criticism to help you learn, so please don't take this the wrong way. )

1. You said the original doesn't look so "cruddy", so maybe this is just this file, but on my monitor, it looks a little underexposed, and looks like it could use some contrast

2. His facial expression. While I like the "tough guy" look, I don't like when it's forced. He should relax his face a little. It looks like he's forcing the look which is bunching up the skin on his chin and pushing his bottom lip out a little. It creates some "un-flattering" shadows under his lip and on his chin.

3. I don't like how the corners of the buildings are angled... when I look at the image it makes me want to tilt my head. The only way to fix this is the change the angle that you're shooting at.... I've done this a LOT before... lol... If you can't help but shoot at that angle, then pull him further down the wall so the angle line doesn't go right behind him.

I hope this helps!

Thanks Tom! That's actually really close to his natural expression...there were some kids that were tickin' him off, lol.

I can actually reshoot with him if needed, as we were losing light more quickly than I anticipated, so I will keep your suggestions in mind. I do appreciate the critique...I know what I like to see, and I'm learning to get it in the camera...and yes, the original looked quite a bit brighter on my screen, I'm thinking its the difference in colorspace between my cam and the web (sRGB for cam and printing and I'm told that AdobeRGB is best for web?)...

Overall the colors look ok though, right? My monitor isn't calibrated, so I'm always afraid there will be a color cast that I can't see.

It lacks a "pop". Also seems a bit soft. I like the composition and location though.

Keep everything in sRGB. The only time I use AdobeRGB is if I'm sending something to be printed on a press.

Yeah... overall, I think the colors look ok... they're just lacking that "pop".

Background over powering subject (expression?)

I think the majority of people wouldn't like his expression (not your fault)? I would have shot from a higher angle. I like the backgrounds but one at a time, I don't think the brick on one side and the weathered wood on the other works, especially with the way the angled wall looks. The white boards between the building is another distraction. I guess in other words the background is so busy/prominent that he doesn't seem the be main subject as much as one would like (pop!). I'm a novice so take my advice as such.

Your colors look close on my monitor. I like the pose and the way his arms are crossed but I would have liked to have tried it from different angles( also changing the angle he holds his head/tilt) I'm not above standing on a chair or something sometimes to change the look. I'm no expert, just giving you my gut reactions if that helps. I checked out you website, you are gifted! Some great shots.

I would have to agree that the angle is odd. Where he must be leaning against the building, it appears instead that the building is leaning on him. He looks distant and uninterested.

While technically it appears to be a good shot, improving the angle and engaging the model would help.

Have him remove his smokes or cell from his front pocket and whats with his back pocket. It makes his hips look overly large and somewhat square. IIMO I like his expression, but would like that attitude str8 at the lens, it would give a more intense look.

tacoma200 wrote in post #6463144
I think the majority of people wouldn't like his expression (not your fault)? I would have shot from a higher angle. I like the backgrounds but one at a time, I don't think the brick on one side and the weathered wood on the other works, especially with the way the angled wall looks. The white boards between the building is another distraction. I guess in other words the background is so busy/prominent that he doesn't seem the be main subject as much as one would like (pop!). I'm a novice so take my advice as such.

Your colors look close on my monitor. I like the pose and the way his arms are crossed but I would have liked to have tried it from different angles( also changing the angle he holds his head/tilt) I'm not above standing on a chair or something sometimes to change the look. I'm no expert, just giving you my gut reactions if that helps. I checked out you website, you are gifted! Some great shots.

Thank you so much. The post was an experiment, for sure, as I'm just getting started...posing is not my strong suit just yet, and lighting is still an experiment too. I appreciate your critiques and your comment...thank you!

Rascalphoto wrote in post #6463431
I would have to agree that the angle is odd. Where he must be leaning against the building, it appears instead that the building is leaning on him. He looks distant and uninterested.

While technically it appears to be a good shot, improving the angle and engaging the model would help.

Cool, thanks. I did want him to appear "bored" so to speak in this particular one...I have another that I'll post here in a bit too. He's a fun kid and was game to let me try almost anything. It was actually hard to get him to wipe the smile off his face, till the kids started riding by, checking out his car.

mwdakota wrote in post #6463914
Have him remove his smokes or cell from his front pocket and whats with his back pocket. It makes his hips look overly large and somewhat square. IIMO I like his expression, but would like that attitude str8 at the lens, it would give a more intense look.

Ack, I hadn't noticed that before, thank you!

I understand, I am willing to try different things and experiment, you learn so much. Back in the days I was learning with film you had to wait for the pictures to be developed, see my mistakes, try to make changes, then go through the process again. Very expensive and time consuming. Digital has given me so much freedom to shoot away and make mistakes (and sometimes great shots) and if I don't like them I just hit delete. I don't regret learning with film, it made you slow down, learn you f-stops, shutter speeds, pay attention to every detail in each shot, and have a real understanding of how the camera works. You had to know and understand the triangle of how shutter speed, aperture, and iso worked together while you were composing each shot. I'm only 45 but this generations doesn't know how good they have it getting the instant feed back from digital.